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(No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 1.

' G. 85 J. H. TAYLOR.

PLAITING MACHINE.

No. 334,060. Patented Jan. 12, 1886;

Wu Mm:

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Shet 2.

G. & J. H. TAYLOR.

PLAITING MACHINE.

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L, Mm 05% N. PETERS, Phclo-Limognpher. Wanhinglun. D C- (No M0deI. 6 SheetsSheet 3. G. 86 J. H. TAYLOR PLAITING MACHINE.

No. 334,060. Patented Jan, 12, 1886.

an. c w W f N. PETERS PholouKhognpher. Wunmkinn. D C.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5. G. & J. H. TAYLOR.

PLAITING MACHINE.

No. 334,060. Patented Jan. 12, 1886.

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N PETERS, Pholwuhographor. Washington. D. C.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(NoModeL) I G. & J. H. TAYLOR.

PLAI-TING MACHINE.

No. 334,060. Patented Jan. 12, 1886.

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Ml. 0Q. Wm OzQ/IQMW N PETERSv Fhota-limu n hw, Washington, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE TAYLOR AND JAMES HENRY TAYLOR, OF NOTTINGHAM, COUNTY OF NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND.

PLAITING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,060, dated January 12, 1886.

Application filed September 26, 1884. Serial No. 144,027. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE TAYLOR, residing at 245 Great Alfred Street, in Nottingham, and in the county of Nottingham, England, and J AMES HENRY TAYLOR, residing at 16 Gladstone Street, Nottingham, and in the county of Nottingham, England, and subjects of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, have made a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Forming Plaits and Flutes in a Strip of Goods, and I do hereby declare that the accompanying specification, when taken in connection with the drawings attached thereto, give such a full, clear, and accurate description of our invention that others skilled in the art can practice the same.

Our invention relates to machines which form and press down into permanent shape plaits in a strip or strips of textile materia passed through the machine.

Before the date of our invention it was common to make gathers or puckers in goods by the use of the Arnold double-feed sewing-machine, or the double-feed machine patented to Singer; but such puckers or gathers were not regularor,in other words, were not all laidin one direction-and scarcely could be called plaits.

The first plaiting-machine that made reguo lar and even plaits was patented to Crosby and Kellogg. This machine, by means of a reciprocating knife, formed plaits of any desired size in a strip of goods, which plaits were passed under a presserfoot, and were sew-ed down by a sewing-machine.

Various modifications of this machine have been used, notably that modification in which a reciprocating knife and two intermittentlyoperated rolls were used.

40 The reciprocating knife of Crosby and Kellogg has been the common device used in connection with all subsequent machines up to the present day for making plaited goods.

We are well aware of the fact that flutingmachines of various kinds have long existed that is to say, machines which formed the fabric into semicircular flutes, not pressed down in either direction by the machine. We are also well aware of the fact that such fluted 5o goods have been passed through mechanism which flattened out the flutes into box-plaits. None of these old machines show our invention, which consists of a machine which operates substantially as follows upon a piece of goods fed into it: The goods are first passed through two rollers having ratchet-teeth, which form the goods into a succession of transverse ridges, each of which consists of avertical and a sloping side, the sloping side of each ridge being toward the operator and the vertical side facing the rest of the mechanism of the machine. Although these ridges may, it is notintended that they should in all cases, form all the final lines upon which the material is bent in forming the final plait, these ridges 6, being formed so that the goods will be bent upon some line, which line of bend may subsequently be altered to change the fullness of the goods. After passing between these ratchetteeth rollers the goods move over a table, preferably, and from there pass on to the surface of a cylindrical feeding-roller having preferably a roughened surface, and under a guard-plate or guide, which is appropriately held over a portion of the surface of said feedroller. As the goods pass between the under side of this guide-plate and the surface of the feed -roller, they are acted upon by layingwheels, which operate through slots in the guide-plate and force the goods to enter between the roller and the guide-plate, with their plaits lying all in one direction, the layingwheels moving rapidly, and preferably having an indented or ratchet-tooth surface, which acts upon the plaits, insuring their even disposition between the feed-roll and the guideplate. After passing from under the guideplate the goods are carried on by means of the feed-roll and a second or adjacent feed-roll, which is pressed into proximity to the adjoino ing roughened feed-roller. These two feedrolls together give the final pressure to the plaits, and finally lay them so that they may at a subsequent operation be sewed by a sewing-machine. The speed of the two 5 feed-rolls determines the fullness of the plaits. It is evident that if the surface-speed of the feed-rolls is identically the same as the surface-speed of the ratchet-tooth crimpingrolls, all the feed-roll would do would be to lay flat and make permanent the plait formed by the ratchet-tooth rolls; but if the feedrolls are moved at a faster speed than the ratchet-tooth rolls, it is evident that a certain amount of the fullness of the goods will be taken away and the plaits will be smaller and the spaces between them greater than would be the case did the feed-rolls and the ratchettooth crimping-rolls rotate together at the same speed. Thus by regulating the speed of the feed-rolls the goods may be produced with plaits as wide as would be due to the ratchettooth rolls; or by increasing the speed of the feed-rolls over that of the ratchet-tooth rolls the plaits may be made comparatively narrow and the spaces between them be made comparatively large.

We use in our machines heat to set the creases in the goods, and we may use gum cords, which are caused to adhere to the plaited goods.

It will be seen that as our machine uses no reciprocating parts, as did the Crosby and Kellogg machine, its operation can be made very rapid, which is a feature of great importance in manufacturing long strips of goods with fine transverse plaits.

Our machine may be so arranged as to make, in connection with plaits, flutes also. This we accomplish by making either the cent-er or the end or ends of the feed and pressure rollers so that they press down the crimps, leaving the remaining portions of the surface of the feed and pressure rollers so that they do not touch each other. Thus the crimped goods are not pressed into plaits at such parts, but remain as crimps in the goods, which crimps may be given the appearance of flutes by so forming the crimping-rolls as to thus shape the goods. \Vhen thus formed, the crimping-rolls do not produce such folds in the goods as are the most advantageous for forming plaited goods; but as in these cases the plaited portion is but an inconsiderable width of the strip this disadvantage is not serious.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the machine; Fig. 2, a'similar View with the pulley and gear-wheels on the near side removed. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the machine, seen from the opposite side. Fig. 4 is an elevation in section corresponding to Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan of the machine. Fig. 6 is a vertical section, corresponding to Fig. 4, showing certain modifications. Fig. 7 is'a plan of the feed and pressure rollers'shown in Fig. 6.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, the frame of the machine consists of two pieces, A A, connected with each other by stay-bars a, and bolted to a bed-plate, A, as shown. The motion of all the parts is derived from a pulley, B, turning upon a stud, b, and to which pulley isrigidly attached a pinion, b, which latter, through an intermediate pinion, b", upon stud 12 imparts motion to the wheel 0 upon the pressed into contact with the roller D by meansof springs e, acting on its slidingjournal-blocks c. The force of the springs 0 may be adjusted by turning the thumb-screws c in one direction or the other, as the thickness of the goods passing between the rollers D E or other circumstances may require. The crimping-rollers D E are formed on their surface with ratchet-teeth of proper shape to'form in the goods passing between them flutes or ridges, each flute being composed of one inclined and one vertical or nearly vertical portion. For reasons that will appear further on it is important that the rollers be placed in the machine so that the inclined portions of the flutes formed in the goods will have the direction from the point of entrance upward and forward toward the point where the goods leave the rollers. The upper roller, E, receives its motion from the roller D, through the wheels d 6 near the side frame, A. The goods entering the machine pass over a perforated table, a, their edges being guided in the laterally-adjustable ways a". If desired, a jet of steam may be caused to issue from a pipe or nozzle, 06*, Fig. 4, below the table a, which jet, rising through the perforations in the table a, will strike the strip of goods in a finely-divided condition and slightly moisten the same, so that the ridges formed by the preferably heated rollers D E will be more efficiently set. The strip of fabric, after passing through the tinting-rollers D E, passes over a table, a, toward and onto the first feed-roller, F, which latter is preferably slightly roughened on its surface, and turns in nearingplates f, which are adjustable in a manner similar to those d of the roller D. The second feed-roller, G, is held in contact with the roller F by means of its sliding journal-blocks g, springs a, and screws 9 in a manner analogous to the roller E. The rollers F and G are geared together by means of the wheels f g, and the roller F carries on its opposite end a wheel, f which gears into a wheel, H, attached to and turning upon the same axis with the wheel H, the latter gearing into the wheel d upon the roller D. It will be seen that by exchanging the wheel H for one of larger or smaller diameter the surface velocity of the feed-rollers F G may be varied with relation to the surface velocity of the flutingrollers D E. The exchanging of the wheel H, as indicated, is rendered possible by mounting the stud carrying the rigidly-connected wheels H H in a piece,

h, which is adjustable upon the side frame, A, 4

as shown in Fig. 3. While the goods are passing over the feed-roll F, the ridges or flutes are made-or, in other words, the plaits are completedand, if desired, the effect of the laying may be rendered more permanent by the ap- ICC plication of a gummed thread along one or more lines of the plaited strip. This laying and completing of the plaits is effected by the following mechanism: I I is a series oftoothed laying-wheels carried upon a shaft, I, which turns in adjustable bearing-plates t, so that the distance between the periphery of the roller F and wheels I may be regulated with great nicety,in accordance with the work being done. The shaft 1 receives its motion through the wheel t" and intermediate wheels, i i from wheel 0, the diameter being so proportioned as to give the shaft I and wheels I a considerably quicker motion than have either the rollers D E orF G. The result of this arrangement is that as the tops of the ridges or flutes formed in the fabric by the rollers D E come in contact with the rapidlyrevolving wheels I they are moved forward faster than the bottom or lower portions of the flutes, and are thus laid or pressed down toward the surface of the roller F, thus forming perfect plaits. Immediately after the plaits are thus laid the fabric enters into a space formed by the surface of the roller F and the convex surface of a guide-plate, J, which latter serves to keep them in the laid condition until they arrive and become firmly pressed between the roller F and the second feed-roll, G, which latter, as above stated, is held with considerable force against the roller F by means of the springs g.

In order to facilitate the entrance of the plaited fabric under the plate J without disturbing the plaits, the front edge of the plate J is brought forward to a point where the plaits are still acted upon by the wheels I, slots being formed in the plate J as shown, to accommodate the wheels I. In this manner the plaits are positively laid and held down by the wheels I while entering the space between the plate J and the roller F, and are not acted upon by said wheels after having advanced some distance under the plate J.

The latter is supported by the rods j, which slide in the pieces j. The springs j, surrounding the rodsj and abutting against the pieces j at the top and against the plate J below, serve to hold the latter with an elastic force at the desired distance from the roller F, this distance being regulated by the adj usting-nutsj at the upper end of the rods j, bearing against the pieces j. The latter themselvesare mounted adjustably upon the staybar j, being for this purpose provided with slots j through which pass the fasteningscrews K is a thread-laying wheel, the shaft K of which is supported in spring-bearings analogous to the roller G, so as to create pressure between the wheel K and roller F. The wheel K works through a slot formed for the purpose in the plate J, and presses one or more gummed threads into firm contact with the plaited fabric, the gum causing said threads to adhere to the fabric, and thus render the plaits more permanent. The threads are de- So far in this description it has been supposed that the rollers D E and F G move with substantially the same surface velocity. It follows therefrom that the delivery between F G being the same as the feed between D E the plaits will be laid by the wheels I exactly according to the creases formed by the rollers D E.

WVhen, now, it is desired to produce goods with narrower plaits and a correspondingly larger interval between each fold, it will be seen that this can be accomplished byincreasing the speed of the rollers F G, because thereby the ridged or crimped fabric as it comes from the rolls D E will be stretched, and the plaits as finally pressed down by the wheels I will not be bent on all of the original lines which formed the ridges in the fabric, but on lines correspondingly nearer the bottom creases in the fabric as the latter is stretched to a greater or less extent. The change of velocity of the rollers F G with relation to the rollers D E is effected, as has been above described, by simply exchanging the wheel H for one of different diameter. The, rollers D E F G, with their trunnions, are or may be all cast hollow, so that they may be heated by burning within their interior a mixture of air and gas or gas alone, said gas beingintroduced through pipes L, passing through the hollow trunnions, as indicated.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, when it is desired to produce both plaited and fluted goods this modification may be used. At E D are shown the crimping-rolls between the tables a a. It will be seen that the crimping-rolls in this case are formed with teeth, which are adapted to make flutesin thegoods, and which teeth are shown as square, though they might beslightly rounded. At I is shown one of the laying-rolls, at K the gum-thread roll, and at F and G the feed and pressure rolls. The usual guide-plate, J, is also shown. By referring to Fig. 7 it will be seen that the rollers F G come in contact only at F and G, thus pressing the goods down into plaits only in the center, the goods on each side of the meet- IIO ing portions of the rolls F G being left in the fluted condition, or in the same condition in which they leave the rollers E D. The layingrolls I, which operate upon the goods on each side of the portions F G, are in substance assistant feeding-rolls. and may either be smaller in diameter,or all of the rolls may be adjusted a little farther away from the surface of the rolls F.

Many modifications may be made in the details without departing from the principles or sacrificing all the advantages of the invention. Certain parts may be used without the others or combined with other mechanism than herein indicated. We can combine the plaiting mechanism with a sewing-machine for permanently securing the plaits. The heating of the several rollers may be effected by means of steam, instead of by the burning of gas; win some cases we can work without heating the rollers at all. In some cases, particularly when a large number of machines is employed, the wheel H may be mounted permanently, so that each machine will produce only plaited goods of one given degree of fullness. Some of the effects of exchanging the wheel H for others of different diameter may be attained by making the rollers D E exchangeable, and having for each machine different sets of such rollers of different degrees of coarseness of teeth, whereby the depth of the preliminary fiuting may be varied; but as we usually construct our machines we propose to have the speed of the rollers differentiated, as above explained, so that by increasing the speed of the rollers F G over and above the speed of the rollers E D the fullness of the goods can be thus varied, and goods be produced with more or less plaits to the inch. It will also be observed that all the motions in our machine are rotating motions, and that we use no reciprocating plaiting-blades or the like.

We believe it to be new to form plaits with amachine having no reciprocating parts.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a machine for forming and pressing plaits in a strip of fabric, the combination of two grooved crimping-rolls,two feed and pressure rolls, one or more laying-wheels, and a guide-plate extending from the laying-wheels to near the line of contact between the pressure-rolls, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for forming and pressing plaits in a strip of fabric, the combination of two grooved crimping-rolls, two feed and pressure rolls, one or more laying-wheels,and a guide-plate formed with slots,through which the laying wheel or wheels operate, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for forming and pressing plaits in a strip of fabric, a table over which the goods pass and from which they are delivered to two crimping-rolls, and a table or support for the goods as they pass toward the laying mechanism and guide-plate and over the moving feed-surface, in combination with said crimping-rolls, laying mechanism, and moving feed surface, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for forming and pressing plaits in a strip of fabric, the combination of two crimping-rolls,two pressing rolls,a laying wheel or wheels, a guide-plate extending from the laying-wheels to near the line of contact between the pressing-rolls, and devices for adj usti'ng said guide-plate, and devices for causing it to yield, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for forming and pressing plaits in a strip of fabric, the combination of two grooved crimping rolls with a laying mechanism consisting of one or more wheels and means for moving the latter at a high velocity in comparison with the crimping-rolls, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for forming and pressing plaits in astrip of fabric, the combination of one or more laying-wheels with a slotted guide, a moving feed-surface, and devices for imparting motion to said laying-wheels and feedsurface, so constructed as to cause the layingwheels to move faster than the feedsurface, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for forming and pressing plaits in a strip of fabric, the combination of a series of laying-wheels having roughened surfaces, as shown, with aslotted guide-plate, a moving feed-surface,'and devices for imparting motion to said laying-wheels and feed-surface, so constructed as to cause the layingwheels to move faster than the feed-surface,

substantially as described.

8. In a machine for forming and pressing plates in a strip of fabric, the combination of two grooved crimping-rolls, alaying wheel or wheels, two feed and pressure rolls, and devices for imparting motion to these several parts, so constructed as to cause the feed and pressure rolls to revolve at the same or a faster surface-speed than the crimping-rolls, and the laying-wheels at a faster surface-speed than either pressure or crimping rolls, substantially as described.

9. In a machine for forming and pressing plaits in a strip of fabric, the combination, with two grooved crimping-rolls,two feed and pressing rolls, means for imparting the same or a higher surface-speed to the latter than that of the crimping-rolls, and a guide-plate constituting, conjointly with one of said'feed-rolls, a channel for the goods, of a laying mechanism and of means for imparting a higher surface-speed to the latter than that of either the crimping or feed rolls, substantially as described.

lO. In a machine for forming and pressing plaits in a strip of fabric, the combination, with two grooved crimping-rolls, two feed and pressing rolls, means for imparting a higher surface-speed to the latter than that of the crimping-rolls, and a slotted guide-plate-constituting, conjointly with one of said feed-rolls, a channel for the goods, of a laying mechanism operating through the slots in said guideplate and of means for imparting a higher surface-speed to said laying mechanism than that of either the crimping or feed rolls, substantially as described.

11. In a'machine for forming and pressing plaits in a strip of fabric, the combination of a laying mechanism, aslotted guide-plate, and a feed-surface, with one or more rollers arranged to press gum cords upon the plaited goods through said slotted guide-plate, sub stantially as described.

12. In a machine for forming and pressing plaits in a strip of fabric, two crimping-rolls grooved with ratchet-teeth and arranged to intermesh,so that the goods are delivered from them with crimps having oneinclined and one vertical portion, in combination with laying mechanism, feeding mechanism, devices for imparting a more rapid surface speed to the laying mechanism than that of either the crimping-rolls or the feed mechanism, and a channel for the goods, extending between the laying mechanism and the feed mechanism, substantially as described.

13. In a machine for forming and pressing plaits in a strip of fabric, the combination, with two crimping-rolls having oblique and vertical ratchetteeth, of laying and pressing mechanism, the teeth in said crimping-rolls being so set as to deliver the goods with the vertical side of each crimp toward the laying and pressing mechanism, substantially as described.

14. In a machine for forming plaits in a strip of fabric, a table over which the goods pass as they enter the machine, two longi- GEORGE TAYLOR. JAMES HENRY TAYLOR.

Vitnesses:

GEO. H. HALLAM, ALFRED J. FIELD. 

